The Fire Still Burns

This is one of my favorite pictures so far of last night's celebration in the wake of the raid that killed Osama bin Laden. The FDNY lost 343 of its brothers on September 11th, 2001, and for a time, living in New York City, these guys became a symbol to me of the indomitable heroism exhibited on that day -- as well as a bittersweet living testament to those who did in fact sacrifice all so that others could go on.

The plaque on the side of the ladder truck in the picture is just one of the many memorials that still dot the streets of New York City.

For me, though, the ongoing heroic efforts of the FDNY is the best memorial there is.

Picture of the Week

You know why this is now one of my favorite images ever?

Because this is President Obama laughing at a joke about Osama bin Laden at last night's White House Correspondent's Dinner, in front of hundreds of members of the media.

And he's thinking, "Yeeeah, motherfuckers. Hope none of you have plans for tomorrow night."

"Justice Has Been Done"

"Tonight, I can report to the American people and to the world that the United States has conducted an operation that killed Osama bin Laden, the leader of al Qaeda, and a terrorist who’s responsible for the murder of thousands of innocent men, women, and children...

Today, at my direction, the United States launched a targeted operation... A small team of Americans carried out the operation with extraordinary courage and capability. No Americans were harmed. They took care to avoid civilian casualties. After a firefight, they killed Osama bin Laden and took custody of his body...

Americans understand the costs of war. Yet as a country, we will never tolerate our security being threatened, nor stand idly by when our people have been killed. We will be relentless in defense of our citizens and our friends and allies. We will be true to the values that make us who we are. And on nights like this one, we can say to those families who have lost loved ones to al Qaeda’s terror: Justice has been done."

-- President Barack Obama, May 1st, 2011

Why Do You Think They Call It a "Network?"

Let's play another game of Six Degrees of Corporate Media Synergy.

Right now Dateline is interviewing Kristen Wiig and Maya Rudoph; they star in the new movie Bridesmaids; Bridesmaids was produced by Universal Studios; NBC Universal is the parent of NBC, which airs Saturday Night Live; Kristen Wiig and Maya Rudolph happen to be castmembers on Saturday Night Live; NBC Universal is also the parent of NBC News, which is essentially promoting both Bridesmaids and Saturday Night Live by doing a story on Kristen Wiig and Maya Rudolph.

And I'm watching the whole thing on Comcast cable.

But hey, now I just switched over to "The Alzheimer's Epidemic: A Larry King Special" on CNN -- and everything's all better.

Quote of the Day

"Trump is every trend in Republican politics over the past thirty-five years taken to its logical conclusion. He is the Republican id, finally entirely unleashed from all restraint and all reality."

-- Johann Hari, in a superb piece in the Independent

Despite the fusillade of jokes at Trump's expense released last night at the White House Correspondent's Dinner -- with Obama's insouciant mocking of him and Seth Meyers non-stop shots drawing icy stares from Trump himself -- the above quote for some reason really sums up the big-picture view of this douchebag's ascendancy.

Still, Trump's reaction to the beating he took last night is laughably ironic and worth circulating far and wide:

"I had no idea it would be to that extent, where you know, it was just joke after joke after joke. It was almost like, is there anyone else they could talk about? ... (The whole thing was) inappropriate in certain respects."

And his thoughts on Seth Meyers?

Wait for it...

"His delivery was not good. He’s a stutterer and he really was having a hard time."

Aw, did the little baby get his feelings hurt?

Cunt.

Listening Post: Jubilee Edition

Today is the first day of May, which means that it's time to kick off our big Deus Ex Malcontent Fifth Birthday Jubilee around here. (I'll give you a moment to cheer.)

Yes, DXM turns five this month, which means it's now old enough to understand that there's something not quite right when I sneak into its bed in the middle of the night -- so I'll have to stop doing that.

Over the next few weeks, we'll be bringing back some of the best pieces, bits and general nonsense from the last five years and looking at the story arcs of the subjects I seem to have come back to again and again. Plus, y'know, I'll probably get a little sentimental here and there, because I'm like that.

Anyway, hope you'll join in the horseshit.

Let's kick things off, appropriately, with the song the Sex Pistols blasted from a boat traveling along the Thames in 1977 in an effort to disrupt Queen Elizabeth's Silver Jubilee.

Here's God Save the Queen.

Sunday Sacrilege

I first discovered Christian Nightmares when somebody sent me the now-legendary and still awesomely weird "Christian Side Hug" video. Since then, the Tumblr site has become my go-to source for all Jesus-related insanity.

Well, in the spirit of the Christian Side Hug -- which you might remember spawned all kinds of debate over whether or not the teen hip-hop act doing it was for real -- the good folks at C-Night are bringing us another act sure to make your eyes widen and your brain explode at the thought that this has got to be some kind of parody.

Ladies and gentlemen, Christian singing sensations, 70s roadie look aficionados, supposed Tea Party idols and very obviously gay guys -- The Chrisagis Brothers.

These two are my new favorite band.

Seriously -- just watch this.





You're welcome.